Axle boxes foe railway carriages



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. DONNELLY, W. McLAREN & A. TRASK. METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AXLE BOXES FOR RAIL AY GARRIAGES.

No. 403,422. Patented May 14, 1889.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No ModelA J. DONNELLY, W. MQLAREN & A. TRASK. METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AXLE BOXES FOR RAILWAY GARRIAGES.

No. 403,422. ligtented May 14, 1889.,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. DONNBLLY, W. McLAREN & A. TRASK. METHOD OF MANUFAGTURING AXLE BOXES FOR RAILWAY GARRIAGES.

No. 403,422. Patented May 14, 1889.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. DONNELLY, W. MOLARBN & A. TRASK. METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AXLE BOXES FOR RAILWAY GARRIAGES.

No. 403,422. Patented May 14,1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN DONNELLY, OF PARLIAMENT STREET, AND WILLIAM MCLAREN, OF

MOORFIELDS, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, AND AMBROSE TRASK, OF

BROOKLEY, COUNTY OF KENT, ENGLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,422, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed April 24, 1888. Serial No. 271,732. (No model.) Patented in France April 9, 1888, No. 189,849; in Belgium April 10, 1888, No. 81,367; in Italy June 30, 1888, XLVI, 203, and in Austria-Hungary September 16, 1888,1I0. 15,545.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN DONNELLY, WILLIAM MCLAREN, and AMBROSE TRASK, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing, respectively, at Parliament street, in the county of Middlesex, IVIOOIfiGldS, in the county of Middlesex, and Brockley, in the county of Kent, all in the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented a new or Improved Method of Manufacturing Axle-Boxes for Railway-Carriages and other Vehicles, (for which we have obtained patents in Austria-Hungary, No. 15,545, d ated September 16, 1888; Belgium, No. 81,367, dated April 10, 1888; France, No. 189,849, dated April 9, 1888, and Italy Att., Vol. XLVI, No. 203, dated June 30, 1888,) of which the following is a specification.

In the specification of an application for Letters Patent 01": the United States of even date herewith, Serial No. 271,731, there is described the manufacture of axle-boxes for railway-carriages and other vehicles by submitting sheet or plate metal to successive stamping or pressing operations, and thereby producing without machinery the required form of axle-box with grooves for axle-guards, or for axle-guards and dust-guard, and a seat for a carriage-spring.

Now our present invention has reference to the formation of such axle-boxes out of sheets or plates of metal (hereinafter called sheet met. 1) by imparting to the metal by means of suitable dies the general form of a box and afterward by drawing or passing through a suitable die or dies, imparting to the parts of the box so produced the necessary formation to produce grooves for axleguards, or for axle-guards, and dust-guard, a

seat for a carriage-spring, when required, being formed in the box at any suitable stage of the manufacture.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings, Figure 1 represents a rectangular sheet metal plate for conversion 1nt o an axle-box by drawing operations, according to this 1n vention. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a vertical section and plan or top view of an inner block or die, a bent metal plate supported thereby, and an outer movable die or bolster. These figures illustrate the first stage of the process for converting the metal plate into an axle-box. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are similar views to Figs. 2 and 3, illustrating further stages in the process of converting the sheetmetal plate into an axle-box of the required form by successive drawing operations. Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken in a plane at right angles to Fig. 6 and showing similar parts. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken through Fig. 7. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are respectively a vertical section, a horizontal section, and a transverse section of a complete axle-box constructed according to this invention with an axle-journal located therein.

A is a plain uncut rectangular plate, Fig. 1, which is first dished or cupped, or has imparted thereto the general form of an axlebox with extended side portions, 1 1, Figs. 2 and 3. For this purpose it is placed upon the top of a die-block, 2, of approximately rectangular shape, but formed with curved projecting side portions, as shown in dotted lines. A bolster, 3, formed with an opening the contour of which is similar to that of the exterior of the die-blocks, but larger, is then placed upon the metal plate and forced downward by any suitable means-such as a hydraulic press-so as to bend or draw the unsupported part of the metal plate downward, as shown in Fig. 2, and thereby giving the cupped or dished form to the metal plate. The partially-formed ax1e-box is then subjected to successive drawing operations, as-

shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The operations are performed in a similar manner to that just described by sets of suitable dies of decreasing cross-section, each set comprising a die-block, 2, and bolster 3, which are similar to those shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the die-block and bolster of one set being made larger and of smaller cross-sections than those of the set for a preceding operation. By these operations the partiallyformed axle-box is gradually extended in length and reduced in cross-sectional area to approximately the form of the finished axlebox.

When the top of the axle-box is to be formed with a seat for a carriagespring, it is then pressed between suitable male and female dies to form a recessed part, 4, from which may extend upwardly -.inc1ined parts 5 5, downwardly-inclined parts 6 6, and raised bosses or parts 7 7, as shown in Figs. 6, 6 and 7. The box is then placed upon another block or die, 2 the top of which corresponds in form to that of the part of the drawn plate forming the top of the axle-box. This block 2 has two of its opposite sides flat, and the other two opposite sides are each provided with three vertical ribs or projections, 9, as shown in cross-section in Fig. 7. The exterior form of the block or die 2 in plan or top view corresponds, as shown, with the interior outline of. the axle-box shell. (Shown in sectional plan in Fig. 9.) The box is so arranged upon the block or die 2 that its extended side portions, 1 l, are adjacent to the said ribs or projections 9. A bolster or die-plate, 3 formed with an opening the internal configuration of which corresponds in form with the exterior outline in plan of a complete axle-box, is then drawn or forced downward over the drawn plate or box, as shown in Fig. 6, by any suitable means-such as a hydraulic pressthereby completing the drawing of the axle-box and forcing the extended portions 1 1 of the plate between the-projections 9 on the block 2 and the-adjacent corresponding parts of the bolster 3 thereby During this final drawing operation the drawn plate or box is, when formed with a recess for a spring, preferably held upon the block or die 2 by a correspondinglyformed die or pressure-plate, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

The axle-guard grooves are for the reception of the axle-guards or horn-plates of the vehicle to-which the axle-box is fitted, and

the dust-guard grooves are intended to receive wooden or other plates that fit around the axle and prevent the entrance of dust to theaxle-journal, as well understood.

In some cases sheet-metal axle-boxes drawn to form in the manner herein described may be formed only with grooves 11 for axleguards, in which case the block or die 2 will have only one pair of projections 9 at each of two opposite sides and the bolster 3 will be correspondingly formed.

One side, 13, Figs. 8 and 9, of the axle-box thusproduced by the operations hereinbefore described has a portion thereof cut away, as shown at 14:, for the entrance of the journal end of an axle, 15.

- 16, Figs. 8 and 10, is a bent plate, secured in any suitable manner-it may be by welding-to the upper part of the box and serving in. conjunction therewith as a grease-box.

This plate 16 is formed by stamping or pressing or by drawing in suitable dies, and is provided with a hole for the passage of grease. Part of the side 13 may be flanged outward, as shown at 17, and to it part of the plate 16 may be welded. The plate 16, when in position, serves as a seat to receive and retain in place laterally a liner, brass, or-bearing, that rests upon the top ofa journal of one of the axles of the vehicle to which the axle-box is fitted.

17 is another stamped or drawn plate secured to the lower part of the axle-box in any convenient manner, and serving as a keep therefor. One of the inclined parts 6 at the top of the box is, in the example shown in Fig. 8, cut away for the insertion of grease; and the opening thus formed is'provided with a hinged cover. (Shown in dotted lines.)

It will be obvious that axle-boxes differing somewhat in form from that shown may be constructed in accordance with this invention.

It is to beiinderstood that we do not make any general claim to the manufacture of axleboxes of wrought-iron, nor to the manufacture of axle-boxes of sheet. metal by a series of stamping or pressing operations, but that our present invention has reference essentially to the manufacture of axle-boxes from sheet metal by drawing such metal to shape in such a manner as to obviate the necessity for machining in order to make the grooves for axle-guards or horn-plates, the seats for Q springs, and the grooves for dust-guards.

forming in the completed box the grooves 11 11 for axle-guards, Fig. 7, and grooves 12 12 i ,for dust-guard, as clearly shown in Fig. 9.

What we claim is- 1. The herein-described process of manufacturing axle-boxes, which consists in imparting a dished or cupped form to sheet metal and then subjecting the partially- ;formed box to .a succession of drawing-operagtions by sets of dies of decreasing cross-secltional area untilthe said box is extended in length and reduced in cross-sectional area to {approximately the desired form of finished axle-box, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described process of --manuifacturing axle-boxes, which consists in imjparting a dished or cupped form with ex- {tended side portions to sheet metal by forc- ;ing the same over a die-block formedwith Zcurved projecting side portions, subjecting the partially-formed box to a succession of drawing operations by sets of dies of decreasing cross-sectional area until the said box is extended in length and reduced incross-sec tional area to approximately the desired form .of finished axle-box, and then drawing it over a die-block provided at opposite sides with ribs or projections by means of a bolster of corresponding form, said extended side portions being caused to bend around and enter the space between said ribs or projections and form axle-guard grooves, substantially as herein described.

3,. The herein-described process of manu facturing axle-boxes, which consists in im parting a dished or cupped form with extended side portions to sheet metal by forcing the same over a die-block formed with curved projecting side portions, subjecting the partially-formed box to a succession of drawing operations by sets of dies of decreasing cross-sectional area until the said box is extended in length and reduced in cross-sectional area to approximately the desired form of finished axle-box, and then drawing it over a die-block provided at opposite sides with three ribs or projections by means of a bolster of corresponding form, said extended side portions being caused to bend around and enter the spaces between said ribs or projections and form external axle-guardgrooves and internal dust-guard grooves, substantially as herein described.

4. The herein-described process of manufacturing axle-boxes, which consists in imparting a dished or cupped form with extended side portions to sheet metal by forcing the same over a die-block formed with curved projecting side portions, subjecting the partially-formed box to a succession of drawing operations by sets of dies of decreasing cross-sectional area until the said box is extended in length and reduced in cross-sectional area to approximately the desired form of finished axle-box, compressing the top of said partly-formed box between dies to form a recessed spring-seat, and drawing said box over a die-block provided at opposite sides with ribs or projections by means of abolster of corresponding form, said extended side portions being caused to bend around vand enter the space between said ribs or projections and form axle-guard grooves,substantially as herein described.

5. The herein-described process of manufacturing axle-boxes, which consists in imparting a dished or cupped form with ex tended side portions to sheet metal by forcing the same over a die-block formed with curved projecting side portions, subjecting the partially-formed box to a succession of drawing operations by sets of dies of decreas- 6. The herein-described process of manufacturing axle-boxes, which consists in imparting a dished or cupped form with extended side portions to sheet metal by forcing the same over a die-block formed with curved projecting side portions, subjecting the partially-formed box to a succession of drawing operations by sets of dies of decreas ing cross-sectional area until the said box is extended in length and reduced in cross-sectional area to approximately the desired form of finished axle-box, drawing it over a dieblock provided at opposite sides with ribs or projections by means of a bolster of corresponding form, said extended side portions being caused to bend around and enter the space between said ribs or projections and form axle-guard grooves, removing a portion of one side, 13, of said axle-box, and finally securing a bent plate, 16, within the upper part of the same to form both a grease-box and a seat for aliner, brass, or bearing for an axlejournal, substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN DONNELLY.

WILLIAM MGLAREN.

AMBROSE TRASK.

\Vitnesses:

F. J. BROUGHAM, W. ORoss, Both of 46 Lincolns Inn Fields, Lomlon. 

